English test for admission

[everestbear]

1. Have English tests such as IELTS, TOEFL been made compulsory for admissions at Polytechnics?
2. With joint application, I can apply four poly at a time. Now, can I separetely apply at 5th, 6th poly to enhance my probability of getting selected?

Where the hell are those IELTS, TOEFL centres? Its irritating school secretaries don't satisfy my queries.

[sammy]

Yes, it will be compulsory to provide proof of language skills from now on in the UAS applications. See the instructions on the admissions site http://www.admissions.fi

I'm not sure if you CAN apply separately to "5 and 6" as you said, after submitting an application.

The point is: if you could do so, then an applicant would in principle be able to apply to ALL possible programmes by just submitting additional applications... AFAIK the limit of four programmes is also there because the institutions would rather receive applications from students that are genuinely interested in studying at their programmes, not from those desperate to receive any placement.

As for test centres - you'd probably find them through the global test sites http://www.ielts.org and http://www.toefl.org

[donald]

I applied to three English taught programmes at Jyväskylä Polytechnic (University of Applied Sciences as it is called today) starting in 2002 without any official proof of my Enlish skills. I didn't even take English classes at high school back home. I simply explained that I had learned English by myself through email contacts, travelling arond etc. I was admitted to do the entrance exams for all three courses I applied to, one of them included a phone interview (as I was still not living in FInland). I eventually did two of the entrance exams + the phone interview in English and got accepted for both programmes.

All that without proof from ANY educatonal institution about my English skills, although they officially required an official proof. And no, I'm not from an English speaking country and have never lived in one.

[sammy]

As an old ABC song goes, Donald - that was then but this is now

www.admissions.fi (quoted on 20th Oct 2008)

In 2009, the basis for admission have changed. All those applicants who are applying with a qualification completed somewhere else than in Finland and are not citizens of an EU/EEA-country, must provide a proof of language skill. Accepted certificates are: TOEFL score 550 pbt/213 crt /79-80 ibt; IELTS academic score 5.5; grade C in the Finnish Matriculation examination in advanced level English or skills level 4 in English in the Finnish general language examination. Please note, that Finnish means that the examination is completed in Finland.

[donald]

As an old ABC song goes, Donald - that was then but this is now

http://www.admissions.fi (quoted on 20th Oct 2008)

In 2009, the basis for admission have changed. All those applicants who are applying with a qualification completed somewhere else than in Finland and are not citizens of an EU/EEA-country, must provide a proof of language skill. Accepted certificates are: TOEFL score 550 pbt/213 crt /79-80 ibt; IELTS academic score 5.5; grade C in the Finnish Matriculation examination in advanced level English or skills level 4 in English in the Finnish general language examination. Please note, that Finnish means that the examination is completed in Finland.

Yeah, they stated some similar rules in my application info, but I simply thought I give it a try and they accepted it as I was able to proof my English skills otherwise. Reading the rules quoted above literally would make it ridiculous that a native English speaker from an Englisch speaking country but outside the EU or EEA would not be accepted if he has not one of those officially accepted certificates.

...and the rules do not apply for EU/EEA, which is quite a big portion where our international students come from. So, I'd still say: give it a try.

[Pursuivant]

In addition, primary and secondary school education in English completed in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand or Bachelor's or Master's degree completed in English in one of these countries, is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills.

"Giving it a try" is wasting the applicants time and money. Everestbear is from Nepal. Nepal is one of the countries they get 1000001 applications. the probability is they choose someone who can read the f*n directions out of those applications.

[donald]

In addition, primary and secondary school education in English completed in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand or Bachelor's or Master's degree completed in English in one of these countries, is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills.

There are more English speaking countries, but the choice is getting quite narrow....

"Giving it a try" is wasting the applicants time and money. Everestbear is from Nepal. Nepal is one of the countries they get 1000001 applications. the probability is they choose someone who can read the f*n directions out of those applications.

Ok, didn't check the country of origin of the original poster. Still, the information given here also is for general purpose and others who read this thread might get valuable info.

If the degree programme one wants to apply for receives only a few applications from abroad, the odds are fairly good they get accepted. In my course there where four students out of twenty that where not from Finland - three out of us citizens form outside the EU/EEA. And I would wonder if anyone who halfway met the regulations to be accepted to the entrance exams would have been rejected (judging this on the people I met who made it to our school....) No wonder, the school in question was located in Jyväskylä aka Nowheremäki. Schools must proof that there is demand for their intarnational courses so they get the funds needed to keep their courses running. As long as certain requirements are not demanded by law, schools might consider to make an exception. If one can proof otherwise that he or she has enough English skills, that is (which I was able to).

I am not one of those who says it is easy to come to Finland, get along, build up a social network and find work, but I still believe that a mising officially accepted proof of proficiency in English language is not the biggest hurdle. Given there are not gazillions other applicants for the same degree programme. So go and try applying to a school that is out in the woods and not that famous.

[rinso]

In my course there where four students out of twenty that where not from Finland - three out of us citizens form outside the EU/EEA. And I would wonder if anyone who halfway met the regulations to be accepted to the entrance exams would have been rejected (judging this on the people I met who made it to our school....) No wonder, the school in question was located in Jyväskylä aka Nowheremäki. Schools must proof that there is demand for their intarnational courses so they get the funds needed to keep their courses running. As long as certain requirements are not demanded by law, schools might consider to make an exception.

I bet the main obstacle for foreign students are the visa and residence permit, not the language requirements.

[zam]

There are more English speaking countries, but the choice is getting quite narrow....

Maybe they have also wanted to narrow done the amount of freeloafers? The same list of countries is also used e.g. by the University of Helsinki.

If the degree programme one wants to apply for receives only a few applications from abroad, the odds are fairly good they get accepted. In my course there where four students out of twenty that where not from Finland - three out of us citizens form outside the EU/EEA. And I would wonder if anyone who halfway met the regulations to be accepted to the entrance exams would have been rejected (judging this on the people I met who made it to our school....) No wonder, the school in question was located in Jyväskylä aka Nowheremäki. Schools must proof that there is demand for their intarnational courses so they get the funds needed to keep their courses running. As long as certain requirements are not demanded by law, schools might consider to make an exception. If one can proof otherwise that he or she has enough English skills, that is (which I was able to).

You are now giving advice based on your own experiences dating back to the time preceeding the present day UAS joint application system. Nowadays these exceptions do not usually happen, as the applicant's papers may be checked in a completely different place than the UAS where the programme is offered (all papers will be checked in the applicant's first preference UAS). I.e. in order to be even eligible you must have the language test report (in case of non EU/EEA/Swiss citizen), otherwise your application will not be processed at all, just marked as ineligible without giving a second thought for it.

[everestbear]

... the limit of four programmes is also there because the institutions would rather receive applications from students that are genuinely interested in studying at their programmes, not from those desperate to receive any placement.

Well, that's true, just a common sense but since the rules don't clearly state barring students from applying more than 4 places, I had this query. Thanx for the links. I should've kinda checked those IELTS, Toefl sites before. Actually, I had done IELTS but it got invalid this year.

[everestbear]

Everestbear is from Nepal. Nepal is one of the countries they get 1000001 applications. the probability is they choose someone who can read the f*n directions out of those applications.

Actually, selection of students are least affected by their country of origins in my opinion but more so by their eligibility. Immigration might have headaches though

[everestbear]

I bet the main obstacle for foreign students are the visa and residence permit, not the language requirements.

Since the rules have come into effect, language requirements fall into one of the criteria to be met in order to get selected, let alone resident permit which is second part of the play.

In my case, I am already studying Masters degree in one of the polytechnics. I am just trying to broaden my skills and exploit the opportunities, hence the need for another polytechnics with different faculty probably cooking, IT, etc.

[everestbear]

I am wondering since I will complete my Masters degree in English medium from a polytechnics in near future, this may exempt me from having to have those wonderful but costly language test again when I apply for another faculty. School secretaries just copied and pasted from their websites when I emailed my queries and it's irritating.

[Pursuivant]

one option is the "skills level 4 in English in the Finnish general language examination" which is the "yleinen kielitutkinto" they offer in a few languages - however it isn't free nor cheap either and usability outside Finland is a bit questionable.

[Pursuivant]

In my case, I am already studying Masters degree in one of the polytechnics. I am just trying to broaden my skills and exploit the opportunities, hence the need for another polytechnics with different faculty probably cooking, IT, etc.

ah, commendable enthusiasm, but what was said about reading the rules? you can be studying for a degree in one institute of higher education at a time. what you can do is take elective courses from the "open side" but you cannot be in two schools simultaneously.